Chris Gleadell: Reasons for Saints fans to be cheerful
Another fine sunny day at the Gardens and another fine victory over one of the Guinness Premiership's top sides, London Irish.
It may have been the proverbial game of two halves, but Saints had enough in the tank to hold off a spirited second half Exiles fightback after dominating proceedings in the first period.
In that first 40 minutes, despite suffering an early breakaway try scored by Sailosi Tagicakibau, the team regrouped and took the game to the visitors.
The scrum was on top form, especially the front row, and two well-taken tries, one from man of the match Juandre Kruger and another from Lee Dickson, the second set up with a fine offload from Courtney Lawes, plus the boot of Stephen Myler gave Saints enough breathing space to hold Irish at bay in the second half.
So as the league season draws to a close this Saturday, it leaves Saints having beaten every Guinness Premiership side at least once, bar the Newcastle side that took our long standing home record and Bath who recorded that 'arguable' draw here at the Gardens.
If someone had offered us just one home GP loss at the start of September, I am sure most of us would have bitten their hands off so you have to put this year's home campaign down in the 'job well done' column.
And who knows a week tomorrow (Friday, May 1) we might round off the Gardens season by qualifying for a final too!
As returnees to the top flight you only have to look at some of those names above us in the table to see how far the squad have come this season.
When you look at those wins over Sale, Gloucester and Irish then things certainly look good for the future.
With the squad being strengthened further with the likes of Shane Geraghty and Phil Dowson, and maybe a couple more to come, we look well set for a tilt at the next step up in the Guinness Premiership as we try to consolidate a top six, or fingers-crossed a top four, place in time to come.
The season is not over yet though, we potentially still have three games to play starting with a trip north to Stockport on Saturday to take on Sale Sharks as the GP proper comes to a close.
A quick glance down the table tells you that Sale still have a slim chance of hitting the top four and the championship play-offs.
Their cause wasn't helped when a mix-up over ex-Saint Dave Ward's registration meant they lost a vital point which means it's a four-try bonus point winning game for them (and other games going their way) or nothing.
Saints on the other hand can secure the seventh place they currently occupy with a victory of their own, hoping that Wasps do not record a five pointer themselves as they take on freefalling Gloucester at Adams Park.
There may be a few more twists and turns yet on Saturday afternoon, and I am sure there will be a few ears plugged into results elsewhere as the games progress.
With the European Challenge Cup semi-final against Saracens just six days later there must be a temptation to rest a few players, but Big Jim and his team have to juggle momentum with fitness, though it would be good to see us finish our first season back in the GP with a flourish. It could be a good day out.
The weather is predicted to be good, two teams still with something to play for (at least at 3pm) and the home support saying goodbye to a few notable names including local folk hero Sebastian Chabal.
I’m looking forward to it!
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Weather for Northampton
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
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